French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu, 39, a former defense minister, as the new prime minister amid political instability. It came a day after Prime Minister François Bayrou resigned on the 9th (local time) following a no-confidence vote in parliament.
According to foreign media including the New York Times (NYT) on the 10th, Prime Minister Lecornu is considered Macron's closest ally. He is the only official to have served in every cabinet since Macron began his first term in 2017, and most recently served as Minister of National Defense. The Élysée Palace said Macron instructed Lecornu to pass the national budget and build political consensus.
In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Lecornu said, "There is no impossible path," signaling his resolve to break through fiscal problems and political strife. He has been tasked with pushing the budget bill through the lower house by the end of the year. With France facing political paralysis, fiscal woes, and social unrest, observers say the new prime minister faces a heavy workload.
Born to an aerospace factory worker and a medical secretary, Lecornu is known as a reserve colonel in the French Gendarmerie, a military enthusiast, and a history buff. Since 2022, as defense minister, he has backed Macron's line emphasizing Europe's strategic autonomy. In his book "Toward War?" he stressed the importance of defense and argued that France should play an independent role within the world order.
He entered politics early. At 19, he stepped into politics as a parliamentary attaché, and at 22 he became an adviser to conservative Minister Bruno Le Maire. At 28, he was elected mayor of Vernon in Normandy, and in 2020 he was elected a senator for the Eure region in Normandy. Under the Macron administration, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and then as Minister of National Defense, building a weighty résumé at a young age.
Assessments within France are mixed. Within the ruling party, he is praised as a diligent and strategic politician. Senator Cédric Perrin, former chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces Committee, said, "He was a minister who fit well with the president's ear," lauding his role in boosting the military budget. The French daily Le Monde also said, "Prudence is the key to his success."
The opposition, meanwhile, pushed back hard. Marine Le Pen, leader of National Rally (RN), criticized Lecornu's appointment as "the last card of Macronism" and called for dissolving the parliament. The left wing also condemned it as "a provocation against the people," citing Lecornu as one of Macron's closest aides. The Socialist Party voiced concern, calling the appointment "a decision that deepens institutional paralysis."
Last year, reports that Lecornu had a secret dinner with Le Pen raised suspicions that he could work with the far right. But it is unclear whether he will actually join hands with the far right. Still, his standing within the ruling camp is solid, as he is expected to faithfully reflect the president's intentions in a political crisis.
Lecornu is one of the few conservatives who joined the ruling party early in Macron's first term. He has maintained close ties with former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who joined around the same time. Minister Darmanin said, "He is a politician with outstanding communication skills," highly rating his negotiating power and political balance.